Westfield Belconnen

Westfield Belconnen is a large regional shopping centre in the Canberra suburb of Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory. It is managed and owned by Scentre Group and is commonly known locally as Belconnen Mall or Belco Mall. The centre serves northern Canberra and surrounding communities with a broad mix of specialty retail, department-store shopping, fresh-food outlets, restaurants, services and entertainment. Reference material describes it as Canberra's largest shopping centre, with approximately 270 specialty stores. The centre was developed as a major retail destination for Canberra's north. The Canberra Commercial Development Authority was established in October 1974 to develop and manage the proposed mall. At the time, Canberra already had major centres in the city and at Woden, and government planners identified a need for a comparable facility in Belconnen. The project was initially pursued through a public authority rather than private industry, partly to avoid the creation of a private-sector monopoly in the district. Site earthworks began in December 1975, and construction of the A$24 million first stage began in September 1976. The centre was designed by Cameron, Chisholm & Nicol and constructed by a joint venture of T. H. O'Connor Pty. Ltd. and Costain Australia Limited. Stage one began trading in February 1978. A second stage opened in July 1978, adding the Centre Stage area, a spiral staircase, a 23-person glass lift and approximately 60 additional traders. The completed centre was officially opened in October 1978 by Robert James Ellicott, then Minister for the Capital Territory. At launch it was promoted as The Big One and was described as the largest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere, with the second-largest Myer department store in the world at that time. Its design also introduced Canberra's first travelators and multi-storey car parks. The mall became a target for Commonwealth privatisation following reviews of government functions after its opening. In December 1985, an agreement was reached for its sale, and the Commonwealth Government completed an A$87 million transaction in 1986. The purchaser was a joint venture between the Commonwealth Superannuation Fund Investment Trust and Westfield Trust, associated with the Westfield Property Group. The Canberra Commercial Development Authority was abolished in 1986. The property subsequently underwent a series of changes under Westfield. Refurbishment of the former Belconnen Mall began in 1989, and the centre adopted the Westfield Shoppingtown identity. In 1995, construction began on a A$14 million entertainment complex incorporating a ten-screen cinema, the Intencity interactive games venue, variety stores and restaurants. Further works in the late 2000s included replacement of the original travelators and a substantial expansion. Fresh-food facilities and the Yellow car park opened in 2010. On 31 March 2011, the centre unveiled the Beautiful New Belconnen refurbishment, which included upgrades to the existing centre and the opening of additional stores, including a Target discount department store. Today, Westfield Belconnen functions as a regional retail and leisure hub rather than a conventional single-brand shop. Its Westfield identity provides the customer-facing brand framework, while the centre's commercial offer is delivered through a changing tenant mix of specialty retailers, food operators, department stores, entertainment venues and service businesses. The available reference material does not establish a separate founding individual, a current store count beyond the approximately 270 specialty stores cited in the article, or a specific current executive structure for the centre.

Westfield Belconnen originated as a public-sector retail-development project intended to serve northern Canberra. The Canberra Commercial Development Authority was created in October 1974 to develop and manage a proposed shopping centre in Belconnen. The policy rationale was that Canberra's northern districts required a major centre comparable with existing destinations such as Monaro Mall and Woden Town Centre, while public ownership would reduce the risk of a private monopoly. Bulk earthworks began in December 1975, followed by construction of the A$24 million first stage in September 1976. Cameron, Chisholm & Nicol designed the project, while T. H. O'Connor Pty. Ltd. and Costain Australia Limited formed the construction joint venture. The first stage began trading in February 1978. Stage two opened in July with a Centre Stage area, spiral staircase, glass lift and approximately 60 additional traders. The finished Belconnen Mall was officially opened in October 1978 by Robert James Ellicott, the Minister for the Capital Territory. It was marketed as The Big One and was described at the time as the largest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere. The complex also introduced notable Canberra facilities, including travelators and multi-storey car parks. The centre's public ownership was short-lived as a long-term policy arrangement. Following government reviews of Commonwealth functions, Belconnen Mall was identified as a possible privatisation candidate. Although the sale process took time, an agreement was reached in December 1985. The Commonwealth completed an A$87 million sale in 1986 to a joint venture between the Commonwealth Superannuation Fund Investment Trust and Westfield Trust. The Canberra Commercial Development Authority was abolished that year. Refurbishment began in 1989, after which the former Belconnen Mall was associated with the Westfield Shoppingtown identity. The property developed beyond a traditional shopping mall through the addition of leisure and dining uses. In 1995, a A$14 million entertainment complex was commenced, including a ten-screen cinema, the Intencity interactive games venue, variety stores and restaurants. Another major improvement cycle began in 2009. It included replacement of the original travelators and expansion of the centre. In 2010, the expanded fresh-food area and Yellow car park opened. On 31 March 2011, the centre presented the Beautiful New Belconnen refurbishment, which upgraded existing areas and introduced further stores, including a Target discount department store. The centre is now managed by Scentre Group and operates under the Westfield Belconnen name. Its role is that of a regional shopping and entertainment destination, with approximately 270 specialty stores cited in the available reference material. The centre's current tenant mix, executive personnel and ownership arrangements beyond the stated Scentre Group relationship are not detailed in the supplied sources.

• 2011

  Beautiful New Belconnen unveiled

  [1]Westfield Belconnenen.wikipedia.org

  A major refurbishment and new-store program was unveiled on 31 March.

• 2010

  Fresh-food expansion and Yellow car park open

  [1]Westfield Belconnenen.wikipedia.org

  New fresh-food facilities and the Yellow car park opened.

• 2009

  Expansion and travelator replacement begin

  [1]Westfield Belconnenen.wikipedia.org

  The centre began a program of expansion and replacement of its original travelators.

• 1995

  Entertainment complex announced and constructed

  [1]Westfield Belconnenen.wikipedia.org

  Construction began on a cinema and entertainment complex with dining and variety retail.

• 1989

  Refurbishment begins

  [1]Westfield Belconnenen.wikipedia.org

  Refurbishment commenced after the property entered the Westfield era.

• 1986

  Privatisation completed

  [1]Westfield Belconnenen.wikipedia.org

  The Commonwealth sold the mall to a Westfield and Commonwealth Superannuation Fund joint venture, and the development authority was abolished.

• 1978

  First stage opens for trading

  [1]Westfield Belconnenen.wikipedia.org

  The first completed stage began trading in February.

• 1978

  Second stage opens

  [1]Westfield Belconnenen.wikipedia.org

  The July opening added the Centre Stage area, a spiral staircase, a glass lift and about 60 traders.

• 1978

  Official opening of completed mall

  [1]Westfield Belconnenen.wikipedia.org

  The completed Belconnen Mall was formally opened in October and promoted as The Big One.

• 1976

  Construction begins

  [1]Westfield Belconnenen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the A$24 million first stage commenced in September.

• 1975

  Site earthworks commence

  [1]Westfield Belconnenen.wikipedia.org

  Bulk earthworks began on the future shopping-centre site in December.

• 1974

  Canberra Commercial Development Authority established

  [1]Westfield Belconnenen.wikipedia.org

  The authority was formed to develop and manage a major shopping centre for Belconnen and northern Canberra.

A large regional shopping and entertainment centre serving Belconnen, northern Canberra and nearby communities.

• Retail · 1978

  Specialty retail precinct

  The centre's core offer is a broad specialty-retail precinct serving everyday and discretionary shopping needs. The available reference material describes approximately 270 specialty stores, spanning categories such as fashion, household goods, personal services, health and beauty, and general merchandise. Individual tenants can change over time, so this entry describes the format rather than asserting a fixed current tenant list.

• Food retail · 2010

  Fresh-food precinct

  Fresh-food retail is a defined part of the centre's expanded offer. The fresh-food area was opened as part of the 2010 expansion program, complementing the centre's broader food, grocery and daily-needs shopping role.

• Food and beverage · 1995

  Dining and food offer

  Restaurants, cafes and other food operators form part of the centre's retail and leisure mix. Dining was also included in the 1995 entertainment-complex project, which added restaurants alongside cinema and interactive entertainment facilities.

• Entertainment · 1995

  Cinema and entertainment complex

  A ten-screen cinema complex and associated leisure uses were developed during the 1995 expansion program. The project helped position the property as more than a retail-only destination by combining shopping with films, dining and other leisure activities.

• Interactive entertainment · 1995

  Intencity

  Intencity was identified as an interactive indoor games venue within the entertainment complex developed in the mid-1990s. It represented the centre's move toward integrating active leisure and family entertainment into the shopping-centre format.

• 2011

  Unveil the Beautiful New Belconnen refurbishmentStrategy

  Background

  A substantial refurbishment and expansion program was intended to modernise the existing centre and increase its retail offer.

  Action taken

  The refurbished centre opened on 31 March, with upgraded existing areas and new stores including a Target discount department store.

  Aftermath

  The project reinforced Westfield Belconnen's position as a major regional retail destination in Canberra.

  Source

• 2009

  Undertake major expansion and infrastructure renewalStrategy

  Background

  The centre's original travelators and existing retail infrastructure required renewal as the property continued to expand.

  Action taken

  Expansion began and the original travelators were scheduled for replacement.

  Aftermath

  The program led to the opening of new fresh-food facilities and the Yellow car park in 2010, followed by the 2011 refurbishment launch.

  Source

• 1995

  Add entertainment complexProduct launch

  Background

  The centre sought to broaden its role through entertainment, dining and leisure facilities in addition to conventional retail.

  Action taken

  Construction began on a ten-screen cinema complex, Intencity interactive games venue, variety stores and restaurants.

  Aftermath

  The development expanded the centre's leisure and dining offer.

  Project cost. A$14 million (1995)

  Source

• 1986

  Accept Commonwealth sale to Westfield-linked joint ventureM&A

  Background

  The Commonwealth Government pursued privatisation of the publicly developed shopping centre after determining that the Canberra Commercial Development Authority should no longer operate it.

  Action taken

  The mall was sold for A$87 million to a joint venture between Westfield Trust and the Commonwealth Superannuation Fund Investment Trust, and the development authority was abolished.

  Aftermath

  The property entered the Westfield ownership and branding era, later becoming associated with Westfield Shoppingtown and ultimately managed by Scentre Group.

  Sale price. A$87 million (1986)

  Source

1. 1Westfield Belconnenen.wikipedia.org